In a pointed yet less venomous response than many, Lauren Indvik, tweeting under @laureni, summed up: "Not an occasion for product placement, AT&T."

Some social media users defended the company, saying they weren't offended and that the image was a fitting tribute.

AT&T removed the controversial picture. "We apologize to anyone who felt our post was in poor taste. The image was solely meant to pay respect to those affected by the 9/11 tragedy," the company said via its Twitter handle @AT&T. It sent USA TODAY the same response when asked to comment.

Thursday morning, AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson said the image "fell woefully short of honoring the lives lost on that tragic day."

In a statement on the company's Twitter feed, Facebook page and consumer blog, Stephenson said: "I want to personally express to our customers, employees, and all those impacted by the events of 9/11 my heartfelt apologies. I consider that date a solemn occasion each year, a time when I reach out to those I was with on that awful day, share a moment of reflection for the lives lost and express my love of country. It is a day that should never be forgotten and never, ever commercialized. I commit AT&T to this standard as we move forward."

It wasn't the first promotional gaffe linked to the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, which took nearly 3,000 lives.

Near Madison, Wis., the Tumbledown Trails Golf Course recently offered a "12th anniversary of 9/11" special: a nine-round golf game for $9.11 or 18 rounds for $19.11. That was until course owner Marc Watts received death threats and apologized after a social media backlash that required protection from sheriff's deputies.

"We're a little hurt by the fact that people are putting such a negative context on this," Watts said.

Other marketers have been criticized for 9/11-related promotions.

Two years ago, fitness chain New York Sports Club offered reduced-fee memberships to 9/11 first responders, drawing outrage from people who said the gym was using a national tragedy to make money.

Yet marketers continue to put out corporate messages in relation to the anniversary. On Wednesday, brands such as Macy's, Walgreens and even Huggies were among the many that sent 9/11-related tweets.

Huggies tweeted: "Today we remember the victims of the tragedy that struck our country and salute the brave men & women who risked their lives to save others."

Even if a company's 9/11-related communications are sincere, they can look off when viewed in a larger context. These messages are next to each other in Red Lobster's Twitter updates Wednesday.